National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed that its substantive drug case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, is proceeding as planned.
The case is scheduled for continuation before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026.
The clarification comes in response to the recent discharge of Kyari by Justice James Omotosho on a separate 23-count charge related to alleged non-declaration of assets.
However, to clarify the issue to the public regarding the judgment and if the agency would be appealing it, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the current ruling is a completely different matter from the drug case against Kyari.
“First, I need to clarify that the ruling by Justice Omotosho is completely different from the main and substantive drug case,” he said.
Babafemi, in a statement, explained that the drug case against Kyari is still active, saying, “That one is very much on course. The case determined by Justice Omotosho today is a different case of money laundering and non-declaration of assets.”
Regarding the potential appeal of Omotosho’s ruling, he mentioned that the prosecution team would seek a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to inform their next step.
Babafemi added: “The prosecution team has been directed to apply for the CTC of the judgment, the details of which will help the management take a decision on what to do next.”
THIS came as a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, discharged and acquitted suspended Kyari and two of his brothers of a 23-count charge filed against them by the NDLEA over alleged non-declaration of assets.
Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the allegations against the defendants.
The NDLEA had accused Kyari and his brothers of conspiracy, failure to declare assets and swearing false affidavits to conceal the ownership of several landed properties allegedly linked to the suspended police officer.
However, the trial judge described the evidence presented by the prosecution as “watery,” noting that the agency failed to produce documents or other credible proof connecting Kyari to the disputed properties.
Justice Omotosho said the prosecution could not establish ownership of the properties said to be in Fountain Estate, Kasa, a property on Linda Chuko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, and another in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to the judge, ownership of landed property could be proven through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession or possession through connection, but the NDLEA did not present any of such evidence before the court.
During the trial, Kyari maintained that the properties in Borno State belonged to his late father and were inherited by him and other members of the family.
The court also faulted the inclusion of Kyari’s brothers in the conspiracy charge, describing it as an action taken in bad faith which the prosecution failed to substantiate.
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